Abstract
Even though Ti-6Al-4V has gained popularity as an implant material, the possible dissolution of Al and V ions in body fluids remains a matter of concern. Though commercially pure Ti (Cp-Ti) overcomes this problem, the mechanical strength of pure titanium remains very low. Thus, in this experiment Cp-Ti was processed by Equal channel angular processing (ECAP), in order to increase the mechanical strength. The biocompatibility of ECAP-Ti, Cp-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V was examined by the apatite formation on each sample surface, after treating the surface with 5M NaOH and soaking in Simulated body fluids (SBF). Initially, the samples were mechanically polished on silicone carbide paper (#2000). The polished samples were treated with 5M NaOH solution at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. The NaOH treated samples were washed gently with distill water and dried at $40^{\circ}C$ for 1 day. The dried samples were heat treated in air at $600^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. The surface morphology of these samples were studied using SEM and XRD. The SEM studies showed network of pores in all samples. The XRD showed oxide layer formation on Cp-Ti and Ti-6Al-4V. samples. However the oxide layer in ECAP-Ti was not substantial. These samples were immersed in SBF, kept at $36.5^{\circ}C$ for seven days period. At the end of 7 days, the apatite formation was confirmed only on Cp-Ti and was not observed in Ti-6Al-4V and ECAP-Ti. These observations of apatite formation relate to the fact that Cp-Ti showed greater oxide layer than other samples. The apatite examined was confirmed as tricalcium phosphate (TCP) using EDS and XRD.
